christine-lover - 2014-04-16 10:48 AM Chrysler

D500Jim - 2014-04-16 10:44 AM

This postcard is on eBay, if you would want to but-it now (not mine!)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1958-Chrysler-Cadillac-Chevrolet-more-BLYTHE-SPORTS-ARENA-Squaw-Valley-CA-/310931476685

 

DIF-RNT - 2014-04-19 6:55 PM

You've probably seen this pic before but it's a favorite of mine......

D500Jim - 2014-04-20 4:57 AM

Here's a - what seems to be a tri-color - 1957 Dodge Coronet Lancer in the shade at the Glen Tahoe Motel in Stateline, California

http://dodge.forwardlook.eu/postcards/cards/CAStatelineGlenTahoeMot...

Happy Easter to you all!

1957 Dodge ForwardLook postcards

 

soiouz - 2014-04-20 11:49 AM Looks like a 58 coronet with a regular 58 two tone paint scheme.

d500neil - 2014-04-22 2:48 AM

That old $28.9/gallon price of Regular grade gas would correlate to about $3.00, today; not cheap, especially with the cars
getting something less than 12 MPG in around-town driving, every day....and requiring regular mechanical attention, and with a
'good' car surviving for 100,000 miles, maybe.

Mayfair - 2014-04-22 5:35 AM



You may be right with the price correlation about one-to-ten, as new-car prices took a similar development.

But why only 100.000 miles?
In a dry state without salt, a late-1950's car could last far longer, if well maintained IMO.

d500neil - 2014-04-22 11:48 PM

The 57 Custom Royal is VERY interesting, not only because it has the really-early fluted stainless steel eyebrow trim

The Chrysler Kid - 2014-04-22 10:36 AM

Anyone else see anything odd about this photo?

GaryS - 2014-04-22 6:17 AM



I saw lots of cars from that era exceed 100,000 miles, though anything over that amount was usually considered a bonus. You could reasonably expect to re-ring and grind valves at that mark.

It wasn't all the car design, but also external factors. Lubricants were not nearly as good as those of today, and roads were much worse. Very few roads were paved where I lived, so the cars were constantly exposed to rough dirt and gravel, and all the dust kicked up while driving. Filters plugged, seals leaked and grit wore out bearings and brakes. The same roads turned to mud bogs when it rained, exposing the entire undercarriage to four-wheeling conditions. Winter brought snow drifts to plough through and washboard ice in towns that shook bodies apart. We didn't have a garage for our cars, as they were reserved for farm equipment. When temps dipped below zero, you pumped the accelerator to pour raw gas into the engine so it would start, and often used ether in extreme cold. Imagine the cylinder wall lubrication issues that caused.

I will also take issue with 12 mpg average. Yes, on some cars that was normal, especially if you lived in cities, but all the 318 powered cars we had averaged about 18, and flathead sixes were in the 20 range. Manual overdrive bought you one or two more.

The Chrysler Kid - 2014-04-22 12:21 PM

Thanks for the information! It is very interesting what they did! Are there any of these hybrids left?